A boy in green sweater playing with his toy motorcycle | Photo by Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash
Moral stories for kids are created with lessons to learn as the readers see themselves walking along with the protagonists in the story.
We grew up listening to stories before bedtime, gifting us with the lessons we would carry with us as we grew up. Moral stories for kids are important stepping stones to navigating life as we apply what we have learned from those characters we met once upon a storytime.
There are important lessons in children’s stories that parents or guardians teach to their kids. Carla Atkinson is an author of moral stories for kids, such as Sarah’s Touch, Mama Bear, and The Dreamer. These books provide lessons that children can remember and apply in their daily lives, becoming more responsible, loving, self-believing, and imaginative.
When you want to write moral stories for kids, you have to consider the lessons to teach the children. You have to remember to not force information on the learner. It would be best to incorporate lessons into the story.
If you are leaning into creating moral stories for kids, here are ways to incorporate the lessons in the tales in a subtle and natural way:
Focus on the Character
In creating moral stories for kids, one of the most important parts is the character. So, who is your protagonist in the story? What drives this character to move through the challenges? Does the protagonist learn a lesson in the end?
As a writer, you have to see to it that your character has qualities that are relatable to your target audience. You may create one that is already compassionate and loving, encountering different experiences that hinder the journey to their goal. You may also make the protagonist flawed, such as being dishonest or picky. The flaws of the character can help them get through different experiences that would make them realize the good things in the journey.
Make Use of the Plot
The plot is an important part of creating moral stories for kids as it is the narrative of the protagonist’s journey. So, what are your character’s experiences? Are these experiences good or bad? Do these experiences or choices result in a good or bad situation? Does the character change at the end of the story?
Your plot must also let your main character develop as he/she deals with the challenges along the way. It should provide the key life lessons for kids that everyone can relate to. You can create a situation that lets the protagonist choose a path. This path must bring him/her into a life-changing moment or a consequence that should let the character realize something positive in the end.
Explore Themes
As a writer, you are an explorer. You can explore different themes that you can use to compel your target audience. Common moral stories for kids use the themes of friendship, a sense of family, imagination, responsibility, ownership of work, and forgiveness. You can also explore the lessons on honesty and kindness.
So, what would you want your character to end like? What kind of journey do you want your character to traverse?
A girl on her bed surrounded by floating books while she flips her hair | Photo by Lacie Slezak
You can always explore different themes that provide the main lesson of the story. In Carla Atkinson’s Sarah’s Touch, the kids learn that Sarah gives her best in doing her chores, making the final product special and unique.
Check out Carla Atkinson’s books to give you some ideas on how you can incorporate lessons in moral stories for kids.
Make Use of the Setting
One of the most effective ingredients in incorporating a lesson in moral stories for kids is making use of the setting. So, where does the story happen? When does it happen?
For moral stories for kids, you can always bring your readers to a relatable place, such as a community that gives importance to values like honesty and responsibility. This place is where your character plays. Is your character the one that is dishonest in an honest community? The setting adds more flavor to the story, incorporating moral lessons subtly or naturally.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When creating moral stories for kids, you must see to it that you are engaging the target audience in the story. You focus on the character to let the readers see themselves in the story, walking along with the protagonist on a journey. Make use of the plot to drive the character to develop into a better individual. You should also explore different themes that will help the children relate to the story. Make use of the setting to know how your characters can move across the plot and create a relatable world in the p
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